WRCO News at Noon

100.9 and 107.7 country and community in Richland Center.

Here's your Daily News Roundup.

For Civic Media News, I'm Connie Feldman.

A public bus driver in Milwaukee was sentenced to six years in prison last week after pleading guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving a bus drunk.

According to the criminal complaint, bystanders reported a Milwaukee County transit system bus hit 61-year-old George Kaiser last November, knocking him unconscious.

Kaiser was pronounced dead at the scene.

The bus driver, 55-year-old Damien Peters of Milwaukee, had a blood alcohol content nearly six times the legal limit for a commercial driver.

In addition to prison time, the judge revoked Peters' license for five years and also sentenced him to four years of extended supervision.

Today's your chance to tell Wisconsin Public Service what you think about proposed rate hikes.

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin is hosting two public hearings this afternoon and evening at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay.

Last spring, WPS asked to raise electric rates by 14% by the end of 2028.

That would add about $16 a month to the average customer's bill.

Natural gas rates would go up about $7 a month next year.

WPS officials say the price increase is needed to pay for new renewable energy sources and ongoing work to reduce outages and improve repair times.

The hearings are open to WPS customers throughout the utility's service area, which includes metro areas like Green Bay, Oshkosh, and Wasaw.

If you can't make the hearing at 2 p.m.

or 6 p.m.

in person today, there is a zoom link on PSC's web page.

Luna takes the crown for the third year in a row as the most popular cat name in the U.S.

That's according to a recent survey published in U.S.

News and World Report.

Luna's also a popular dog name, according to the report, as are the runner-ups Milo and Bella.

Mocha made the number 100 spot, all the way at the bottom, but still Cat G. Enough to make the list.

Wisconsin drivers get a bit of relief at the pump this week thanks to a refinery restart.

The average gas price across the state right now is about 430 a gallon.

That's down more than 13 cents from last week.

While prices around most of Wisconsin will fall somewhere between 418 and 447 a gallon, there are a couple of pockets showing numbers below 4 bucks a gallon on GasBuddy's price map.

Keep an eye out for those prices if you're driving south of Fond du Lac, west of Appleton, or all the way up north in the Marinette area.

Patrick Dahan with GasBuddy says diesel prices in the Great Lakes region should also begin easing, but it may take several more days to see that reflected at the pump.

Dahan says the current geopolitical situation can still push prices in either direction with little warning.

Alpha Epsilon Pi is suspending all chapter programming in Madison following the arrests of two chapter leaders in a hazing investigation.

National officials issued an immediate cease and desist directive, halting all social gatherings, pledge meetings, and philanthropic events, while law enforcement continues its inquiry.

Police recently discovered roughly 30 young men covered in food and condiments inside a sweltering fraternity basement.

Fertility leadership strongly condemned the alleged behavior, promising to expand

any members found responsible and support full criminal prosecution.

With football season gearing up, the Green Bay Packers are looking for workers to join the legendary Lambeau Field Experience.

The team is holding two walk-in job fairs on Wednesday, October 7th and on the 21st in the Johnsonville Tailgate Village off Onida Street.

The organization says a variety of positions are available for job seekers who want to be part of the football season, including seasonal Packers' game day roles in guest services and security.

The team says they'll conduct on-site interviews between 4 and 6 p.m.

each day.

Applicants should be available to work for all home games and potential playoff games.

And that's your state news update.

I'm Connie Feldman for Civic Media News.

A new day for the Bucks.

Hi, I'm Mike Clemens with SportsNBA, the Milwaukee Bucks beginning training camp.

It's a new team.

with a new head coach, Buck's owner,

Wes Edens.

You look around here, there's no Yanis, there's no Chris Middleton, there's no, you know, Brooke Lopez, Drew Holiday, all these amazing players that came through here.

We have the next crop of these young folks here that I think have every right to believe that they can be the next group that kind of builds towards that.

NFL, the Packers face the Buccaneers Sunday in Tampa.

Christian Watson says he understands why Packer fans booed the team last Thursday night, tied in Tucker Kraft, asked to comment.

Like I said, when I was referring in the past,

to disappointment I'm talking about from the day overall not not just from the fans obviously the fans are out there and Christian put it the best like this is an entertainment business we got to go out there and and put a better product on display so

You know, people are happier when they're headed to their cars after the game.

That's Tucker Kraft with Sports on Mike Clemens.

Sunshine early today but becoming mostly cloudy by later this afternoon are high right around 72.

Tonight mostly cloudy.

Scattered showers developing especially late tonight after midnight are low dropping into the upper 50s to near 60 tomorrow.

Scattered showers with a high near 70.

I be the urologist Sean Cable.

That's your news roundup for Richland Center from WRCE and WRCO.

Find more news anytime at wrco.com and wrce.fm.

Subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you find your podcasts.

Good morning, everyone.

For WRCO News, I'm Todd Copernall.

52 degrees under sunny skies in Richland Center.

The forecast says today's high will reach 73 degrees.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the self selfless sacrifice of John Klang, a beloved educator, mentor and leader who dedicated his life to protecting and serving the students and staff of West End School.

On this solemn milestone, the Western community comes together to honor a man whose heroic actions and lifelong commitment left an enduring imprint on all who knew him.

John's connection to Western ran deep.

Having walked its hallways as a student, he later returned to serve his alma mater in numerous capacities over several decades.

For over 20 years, he was an active member of the Weston School Board, advocating passionately for high educational standards and student welfare.

He later stepped into leadership roles as the athletic director and eventually as principal, consistently leading with integrity, compassion and unwavering devotion.

Two decades after his heroic final act, John's spirit remains deeply embedded within the culture of Weston School.

His legacy serves as a constant reminder of courage, leadership, and selflessness.

As community members, former students, and staff gather to reflect on his life, they celebrate not only his ultimate bravery, but also the countless everyday moments of guidance and encouragement he offered to generations of students.

I asked Phil Nee to stay with me in the studio for the news today.

Phil was on the air that day 20 years ago.

Phil, what was that day like down here?

Well Todd it was a dark day to say the least and I've been on the air five years earlier when 9-11 happened and This was his bad or worse for us just because we knew John well and ironically at the time of this incident We were playing an interview with him on the air that Vicky Bedard was on our news staff at the time had recorded just the night before because it was Weston's homecoming and So we were playing this interview and he was talking about how great the week was going and then this

happen and of course we started getting calls to the radio station and that was of course social media wasn't really such a thing at that point so people were really relying us for the information and we started getting calls saying that oh we heard there was a traffic accident near western school this morning and I started correcting people saying no no there was an incident at the school there wasn't a traffic accident only to learn later

You know, what a, the day got even more horrible because Eric Fichtel, who was just eight, uh, age 16 at that time, died in a car accident that morning on his way to school.

And so that and then coupled with, with John Clang.

And then the other thing that was really tough is we were told by authorities to not say the names on the air and we would go into our national news and CBS and they would scoop us and they would, they mentioned right on the air, you know, John Clang, Western principal has been shot, you know, and at that point he was in grave condition or whatever.

We weren't allowed to say that, but the national news was scooping us at that time.

And then they, they brought up, you know, Eric's name as well.

So it was just a,

rough day to be on the air just because we knew those people and it was just a dark day.

Hard to believe it's been 20 years.

I thought the same thing this morning when I realized it had been, I can't believe that's 20 years ago.

And then when I got here today, you taught me, I was not living here 20 years ago.

And Phil taught me about the young man who died in a car accident right there, a Western student the same day, if you can believe that.

So the Western community and then of course the greater Richland community, two tragedies in one day, the young man passed away, I believe at a hospital in Madison.

And of course, John did as well.

and as that news of the of the shooting at that incident of course spread all over the place and i got a phone call that day from my uncle denny over in spring green telling me that my aunt surely copperno had been john's third grade teacher back in the day over in western district and so these things started to come out and i didn't know john but the stories of who he was and what he was about came out quickly and i'm glad they did and i think it's

the only fitting that we mentioned all of this today, um, you know, such a senseless things, such a tragic thing.

And just hopefully people will take a minute to think about, about what happened and how we need to never have that again and how brave people, incredibly brave people saved innocent lives that day.

And John certainly did that.

Very much so.

And how it affects a community when a tragedy happens like this, because as you mentioned, we're all connected, you know?

And so,

Yeah, 20 years have gone by, but we remember Eric Fichtel and John Klang today.

So

you're telling everyone that at the moment this crazy thing was taking place over at Weston School, an interview with John that I think was recorded the day before.

The night before.

Was playing on the air.

That's correct.

And what was he discussing?

He was discussing Weston's homecoming and how well the week was going.

Wow.

Well, Phil,

thank you for sharing.

I wanted the people out there to really hear more than I knew.

About that day and how that went and I guess we're just everyone at WRCO Asking everyone out there to remember that and to remember John Clang today For what he did and again one more time the students name who died that day Eric Fichtel.

Okay to anyone who knew and loved Eric Fichtel Same there Imagine that the same day and you lose a kid.

I've been through that and when that happens in your household It changes everything and somehow in that family it disappeared

because it happened on the same day this other thing happened.

So our best from everyone here to everyone who are new or loved, either of the men who died that day.

Thanks, Phil.

You're welcome.

The Richland Center City Council will meet in a special session tonight at 530 at the City Municipal Building.

Major agenda highlights include the personnel committee's recommendations regarding 2027 health insurance policies

Additionally, the general government committee will bring forward recommendations for the Connect Communities grant application alongside a request for municipal accounting and bookkeeping services.

The meeting will conclude following the consideration of these items.

WRCO's Phil Knee will celebrate 40 years of his Saturday Night Rock and Roll request show, Those Were the Days, with a live broadcast of the show from the Richland Center City Auditorium Saturday Night.

The night will feature great music, special guests and lots of fun.

The Richland Center FFA will be offering hot dogs and Phil will have ski soda pop available for a free will donation with all proceeds going to the auditorium restoration.

Coming out to celebrate Phil's 40 years of those were the days, have some laughs and enjoy some great memories.

Saturday night at the auditorium in Richland Center doors open at 5.30.

The show starts at 6 p.m.

Community members are invited to gather for an informative evening dedicated to the state and future of local public education.

The upcoming event, titled Strong Schools Equal Strong Communities Protecting the Promise of Our Public Schools, will feature local public education advocate, Kristina Reiser-Janes.

The discussion is scheduled for tonight, starting at 6.30 at the Phoenix Center banquet room.

During the session, research teams will address critical issues facing Wisconsin's education system, beginning with the state's constitutional obligation to fund and operate public schools.

Attendees will gain insight into the factors driving the recent surge of school referenda on ballots across the state, as well as how these measures intersect with broader public school finance structures.

The program will also dive into the financial implications of voucher schools, examining their direct impact on public school budgets and tax bill transparency.

Beyond exploring these challenges, the presentation aims to empower residents by highlighting actionable ways individuals and local communities can advocate for and protect public education in Wisconsin.

The Richland County ad hoc EMS district formation committee will meet Wednesday at 2 p.m.

in the Richland County boardroom of the courthouse.

The agenda for the upcoming session focuses on several critical discussion and action items.

Committee members will review the September 28 municipalities meeting and discuss ongoing township resolutions.

Additionally, the committee is scheduled to work on updating the frequently asked questions document.

Review a press release and outline next steps for the district formation process.

Fans of the Beatles are in for an unforgettable evening as the Madison Mystery Tour comes to the City Auditorium in Richland Center Saturday, October 17th.

From 7 p.m.

until 10 p.m., this dedicated ensemble will perform a vibrant tribute to the iconic music of the Fab Four, known across Wisconsin for their sold-out shows and remarkable attention to musical detail since 2013.

The band promises a lively journey through Liverpool's most celebrated catalog of classic hits and hidden gems.

Tickets for general admission are available for $25, offering local music lovers a wonderful chance to gather and celebrate a night of timeless music, friendship, and nostalgia.

Authorities in Washburn County are investigating a possible homicide following a welfare check conducted Saturday.

According to officials, Washburn County deputies were dispatched to a residence on Highway E near Mackenzie Lake in Casey Township to check on the well-being of a 56-year-old male.

Upon their arrival, deputies encountered a 25-year-old male who was exiting the property from an attached garage.

When deputies inquired about the 56-year-old resident, the younger man made statements that led officers to detain him immediately.

A subsequent security sweep of the property revealed the 56-year-old male deceased inside having suffered multiple wounds.

Deputies quickly secured the scene and called in Washburn County investigators.

Due to the nature of the crime, assistance was requested from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Lab to help process the property and gather evidence.

An autopsy for the deceased victim has been scheduled.

The 25 year old suspect remains in custody at the Washburn County Jail, pending formal charges.

The investigation remains ongoing and additional details will be released as they become available.

Good evening, everyone, for WRCO News.

I'm Todd Copernall.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the selfless sacrifice of John Klang, a beloved educator, mentor, and leader who dedicated his life to protecting and serving the students and staff of West End School.

On this solemn milestone, the Western community comes together to honor a man whose heroic actions and lifelong commitment left an enduring imprint on all who knew him.

John's connection to Western ran deep.

Having walked its hallways as a student, he later returned to serve his alma mater in numerous capacities over several decades.

For over 20 years, he was an active member of the Weston School Board, advocating passionately for high educational standards and student welfare.

He later stepped into leadership roles as the athletic director and eventually as principal, consistently leading with integrity, compassion and unwavering devotion.

Two decades after his heroic final act, John's spirit remains deeply embedded within the culture of Weston School.

His legacy serves as a constant reminder of courage, leadership, and selflessness.

As community members, former students, and staff gather to reflect on his life, they celebrate not only his ultimate bravery, but also the countless everyday moments of guidance and encouragement he offered to generations of students.

I asked Phil Need to stay with me in the studio for the news today.

Phil was on the air that day 20 years ago.

Phil, what was that day like down here?

Well Todd it was a dark day to say the least and I've been on the air five years earlier when 9-11 happened and this was as bad or worse for us just because we knew John well.

And ironically, at the time of this incident, we were playing an interview with him on the air that Vicky Bedard, who was on our news staff at the time, had recorded just the night before because it was Weston's homecoming.

And so we were playing this interview when he was talking about how great the week was going.

And then this happened.

And of course, we started getting calls to the radio station.

And that was, of course, social media wasn't really such a thing at that point.

So people were really relying us for the information.

And we started getting calls saying that, oh, we heard there was a traffic accident near Western school this morning.

And I started correcting people saying, no, no, there was an incident at the school.

There wasn't a traffic accident only to learn later.

What, you know, what a, the day got even more horrible because Eric Fichtel, who was just eight, uh, age 16 at that time, died in a car accident that morning on his way to school.

And so that and then coupled with, with John Klang.

And then the other thing that was really tough is we were told by authorities to not say the names on the air and we would go into our national news and CBS and they would scoop us and they would, they mentioned right on the air, you know, John Klang, Western principal has been shot, you know, and at that point he was in grave condition or whatever.

We weren't allowed to say that, but the national news was scooping us at that time.

And then they, they brought up, you know, Eric's name as well.

So it was just a,

rough day to be on the air just because we knew those people and it was just a dark day.

Hard to believe it's been 20 years.

I thought the same thing this morning when I realized it had been.

I can't believe that's 20 years ago.

And then when I got here today, you taught me.

I was not living here.

20 years ago, and Phil taught me about the young man who died in a car accident right there, a Western student the same day, if you can believe that.

So the Western community, and then of course the Greater Richland community, two tragedies in one day, the young man passed away, I believe, at a hospital in Madison, and of course John did as well.

And as that news of the shooting, that incident of course spread all over the place, and I got a phone call that day,

from my uncle Danny over in Spring Green telling me that my aunt Shirley Copernall had been John's third grade teacher back in the day over in Western District.

And so these things started to come out.

And I didn't know John, but the stories of who he was and what he was about came out quickly.

And I'm glad they did.

And I think it's the only fitting that we mentioned all of this today.

Such a senseless thing, such a tragic thing.

And just hopefully people will take a minute to think about

about what happened and how we need to never have that again and and how brave people incredibly brave people saved innocent lives that day and john certainly did that

very much so and and how it affects the community when a tragedy happens like this because as you mentioned we're all connected you know and so yeah 20 years have gone by but we remember eric fictal and and john clang today

so you you're telling everyone that at the moment this crazy thing

was taking place over at Weston School.

An interview with John that I think was recorded the day before.

The night before.

Was playing on the air.

That's correct.

And what was he discussing?

He was discussing Weston's homecoming and how well the week was going.

Wow.

Well, Phil, thank you for sharing.

I

wanted the people out there to really hear, you know, more than I knew.

About that day and how that went and I guess we're just everyone at WRCO Asking everyone out there to remember that and to remember John Clang today For what he did and again one more time the students name who died that day Eric Fickle okay to anyone who knew and loved Eric Fickle Same there Imagine that the same day and you lose a kid.

I've been through that and when that happens in your household It changes everything and somehow in that family

it disappeared because it happened on the same day this other thing happened.

So our best from everyone here to everyone who anew or loved either of the men who died that day.

Thanks Phil.

You're welcome.

The US-14 highway project is planning to switch to the final stage of construction next Wednesday, October 7.

Traffic in both the east and westbound lanes will be restricted to the outside lane in each direction as crews work to finish the median in between the east and westbound lanes.

Access through the median will be greatly reduced, meaning left turns into and out of businesses will be difficult.

and completely restricted at some points.

As the weather cools, it takes concrete longer to cure and achieve required strengths, resulting in longer closures.

The intersections of US-14, Bowman Drive and County O will both need to be closed again for excavation and final concrete installation.

Please use the marked detour on County RC to State Highway 80.

Again, the project team thanks you for your support and patience during these final weeks.

The project is still currently on schedule to meet the contracted completion date in November.

The Richland County Ad Hoc Jail Committee will be meeting Tuesday, October 8th at 11.30 a.m.

in the Richland County Boardroom at the Chord House.

Inwards Lens Center, members of the public and interested parties are encouraged to attend to stay informed about critical developments concerning local county infrastructure and public safety facilities.

Key topics scheduled for discussion include reports from the jail inspector, a comprehensive overview of the current jail status, and details regarding a potential new jail referendum structure.

Virtual attendance options and additional meeting documentation are available through the official Richland County Administrator website.

The Richland Hospital and Clinics will join forces with local and regional emergency response agencies Thursday, October 1st to conduct a comprehensive disaster training exercise.

The planned drill aims to test real-time communication, interagency coordination, and incident command operations to evaluate and strengthen local response capabilities.

Throughout the day, community members will notice heightened activity surrounding hospital grounds, including emergency vehicles, response personnel, and volunteer actors participating in realistic simulated scenarios.

Hospital officials emphasize that this is strictly a training event and that patient care services will continue without interruption.

Lyle Cratowill, Risk Management Director for the Richland Hospital and Clinics,

highlighted the importance of routine drills in maintaining community readiness.

He noted that evaluating strengths and addressing areas for improvement in a controlled setting ensures staff and regional partners remain fully prepared for real emergencies.

Following the exercise, participating agencies will complete a full debrief to refine future response strategies.

The Vernon County Sheriff's Office successfully held its annual in-service training on Monday, bringing together department staff and regional partner agencies for a comprehensive day of instruction and professional development.

The training session covered a wide range of critical operational topics, including emerging trends in cryptocurrency, advanced procedures for death investigations, and updates from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Attendees also completed hands-on refresher courses in life-saving measures, specifically the administration of Narcan, automated external defibrillator usage, and EpiPen application.

Additional training sessions are scheduled to take place Wednesday and again October 5th as part of the department's ongoing effort to maintain high standards of community service and readiness.

United States Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin supported the Senate passage of the Bipartisan Protect College Sports Act.

A legislative measure designed to establish standardized national guidelines for student-athlete name, image, and likeness or NIL compensation.

The bill passed the Senate with a 77 to 22 vote and now moves to the House of Representatives.

The legislation aims to bring structure to the rapidly changing collegiate sports landscape.

expanding revenue opportunities for athletic programs while codifying student athlete protections into law.

Senator Baldwin successfully offered a key amendment to the bill to safeguard athletes' legal rights, ensuring they retain the ability to pursue state law claims regarding personal injury, health and safety violations, or sexual assault.

Community members are invited to gather for an informative evening dedicated to the state and future of local public education.

The upcoming event, titled Strong Schools Equal Strong Communities, protecting the promise of our public schools, will feature local public education advocate, Christina Reiser-Janes.

The discussion is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, starting at 6.30 p.m.

in the Phoenix Center banquet room.

During the session, research teams will discuss critical issues facing Wisconsin's education system, beginning with the state's constitutional obligation to fund and operate public schools.

Attendees will gain insight into the factors driving the recent surge of school referenda on ballots across the state, as well as how these measures intersect with broader public school finance structures.

The program will also dive into the financial implications of voucher schools, examining their direct impact on public school budgets and tax bill transparency.

Beyond exploring these challenges, the presentation aims to empower residents by highlighting actionable ways individuals and local communities can advocate for and protect public education in Wisconsin.

Fans of the Beatles are in for an unforgettable evening as the Madison Mystery Tour comes to the City Auditorium in Richland Center Saturday, October 17th.

From 7 p.m.

until 10 p.m.

this dedicated ensemble will perform a vibrant tribute to the iconic music

of the Fab Four, known across Wisconsin for their sold-out shows and remarkable attention to musical detail since 2013.

The band promises a lively journey through Liverpool's most celebrated catalog of classic hits and hidden gems.

Tickets for general admission are available for $25, offering local music lovers a wonderful chance to gather and celebrate a night of timeless music, friendship,

and nostalgia.

State officials have successfully recovered thousands of dollars in back pay for two dozen underage workers following an investigation into child labor violations at a Wisconsin fast food franchise.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, working alongside the Department of Justice and the Department of Revenue, announced the recovery of $17,000 in penalty wages meant for 23 minor employees.

The wages were secured following a 2024 audit of Iron Arch, an operator of McDonald's franchise locations across the state.

The audit was triggered by an employee complaint and uncovered systemic non-compliance with state employment laws governing minors.

Among the infractions cited were scheduling minors during non-permitted hours, exceeding legal daily limits, and failing to provide required 30-minute rest breaks during shifts lasting six hours or more.

In addition to the back wages, DOJ enforcement led to a judgment against iron arch.

requiring $59,754 in civil forfeitures and surcharges.

DWD Secretary Amy Pechasek highlighted the importance of protecting young workers from exploitation while maintaining their educational and family commitments, praising the interagency collaboration that made the financial recovery possible via state debt collection mechanisms.

With just one week to go, excitement is building for the Sock County Law Enforcement K-9 golf outing.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 3rd, at the Baraboo Country Club, offering community members a wonderful chance to enjoy a day on the course while supporting local law enforcement teams.

Proceeds from the outing directly benefit canine programs throughout Salk County, helping care for and equip the dedicated four-legged partners who work alongside their handlers every day.

Attendees can look forward to a full itinerary featuring a golf tournament, exciting raffles, a 50-50 drawing, and a shared lunch.

The event welcomes non-golfers as well, providing options to join for lunch, participate in raffles, or make direct donations.

Those interested in registering or supporting the cause can find more details and sign up online.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is encouraging state residents to celebrate Food Waste Prevention Week, September 28th through October 4th, by adopting simple habits to reduce waste and save money, according to the DNR's 2020-2021 Statewide Waste Characterization Study.

Wasted food, defined as edible food discarded before consumption or due to spoilage, constitutes the single largest component of trash in Wisconsin landfills.

When including food scraps such as banana peels, Wisconsinites send approximately 854,000 tons of food waste, or 294 pounds per person, to landfills in 2020 alone.

Beyond environmental impacts such as the release of powerful methane gas as organic material decomposes in landfills, food waste carries a significant financial burden.

A recent Environmental Protection Agency report estimates that food waste costs each American consumer roughly $728 annually with residential trash accounting for 30% of overall food waste.

Kate Strom-Huerns, Director of the DNR's Waste and Materials Management Program, emphasized that food waste prevention offers a major opportunity for residents to make a positive environmental impact while simultaneously cutting grocery costs.

Proper storage techniques extend the life of groceries and reduce frequent trips to the store.

Resources such as Save the Food's Storyt Guide and the Natural Resources Defense Council's The Refrigerator Demystified provide actionable guidance on organizing refrigerators and optimizing food freshness.

Finally, households looking to establish better habits can utilize the EPA's Get Smart, Take the Challenge, Tracking Tools to establish a baseline for their waste set manageable goals.

and track progress over time.

There are two new winners to announce in the St.

Anthony's Raffle.

These are $50 winners.

Today's winners on Ticket 57, Genevieve Gilbert from Hillsboro and Ticket 302, Pat Farber.

Congratulations to both winners.

Vital statistics right after this.

Today is September 29th.

These are today's vital statistics.

David Daniel Higbee 65 of Richland Center died Wednesday, September 16th.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 30th at 3 p.m.

at the Pratt Memorial Chapel with burial to follow in the Richland Center Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 1 p.m.

until the time of service at 3 p.m.

at the Pratt Memorial Chapel.

David Daniel Higbee 65 of Richland Center.

Peter Pete Crook 65 of Bear Valley died unexpectedly Thursday September 24th in a work accident.

A funeral mass will be held Thursday.

October 1st at 10.30 a.m.

at St.

Luke's Catholic Church in Plain with burial in the St.

Killian's Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 30th from 4 p.m.

until 7 p.m.

at the Richardson Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green.

Pay to survive by his wife Dolores, four children, Daniel and Brittany Crook, Monica and Isaiah Rickert, Jessica and Jesse Lenz, Brittany and John Killoy.

Peter P. Crook, 60th of Bear Valley.

Carolyn Josephine Janney Freeman, 102 of Richland Center died Wednesday, September 2nd at Schmidt-Woodland Hills.

A celebration of life for Carolyn will be held Saturday, October 3rd at 11 a.m.

at the Pratt Memorial Chapel with a private family burial to follow in the Richland Center Cemetery.

A live stream of the service can be viewed at the Pratt Funeral Information Service website.

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 3rd at the Pratt Memorial Chapel from 9.30 a.m.

until the time of service at 11.

Memorials in Carolyn's memory can be made to the Town and Country Presbyterian Church, Schmidt Woodland Hills Foundation Scholarship Fund, or the Myra Tony Pine River School Restoration Handicap Accessible Project.

Carolyn Josephine Janney Freeman 102 of Richland Center.

It's Tuesday's Roundup!

Hanks got the answers, Phil's got the guesses and somehow we've got a show.

Play along and see if you can beat Phil.

Which, statistically speaking, you probably can.

Tuesday's Roundup where the questions are tough and Phil makes them tougher.

Hank Bray.

How you doing buddy?

Good to meet you.

Yeah.

You know what is today is?

What is today?

It's one day closer to Christmas.

Oh really?

Yep, the mule jump.

The mule jump.

Oh, the Christmas.

Yeah, I was going to say.

So 93 days left in the years.

Isn't that crazy?

Yeah.

Yeah, because I was looking at my calendar and I put two months at a time.

It's like, God, I got to get a new calendar.

Yeah, time to get a new watch.

Yeah, right.

Yeah.

Anyway, another day closer to 40 years on Saturday night.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

Another day to wheels of time.

Yeah, wheels of time this weekend.

Another day to lights parade.

The lights parade.

Another day to customer appreciation days at Oakwood.

It's coming up.

Yes, it is.

It's going to be a pretty good weekend weather wise too.

Yeah, it is.

Yes.

So, yeah, fall-ish.

Yeah, I like fall-ish.

Leaves are starting to turn.

They are.

They say it's going to be very vibrant.

Yeah, I bet it is.

What they say.

due to the wetness

it all depends though because we can get a quick storm with wind and i can it could end it right now so like that

yeah today's quiz day yes you study

well i didn't know what i was supposed to study on but i i always study the wrong things like back in the day right you know i was reading the goddess book of world records instead of reading my homework and things like that you know we've spent our

hard-earned milk money on that.

I love that saying.

Well, I usually checked it out at the library, but you had to get your name on the list the first day of school to

get the

Guinness Book of World Records.

There was a waiting list for it always.

Seriously.

Oh

yeah.

I don't think I've ever stepped foot in the library.

Probably not.

Not high school

anyway.

I only did the first day and then he got kicked out and disallowed from there.

The libraries

are.

Because of talking.

You would talk.

And here I was working on my future career.

They didn't realize that.

Oh,

boy.

I was campaigning in the back.

Yeah, you were.

But no, but public libraries aren't that they need to sell.

Oh, they are.

They're really, really.

Such a great resource.

Oh my

goodness.

The Brewer

public library

has their history room is just top notch.

It's amazing.

Yeah.

So if you ever get a chance to go on to a public library, just go in there and look around because there are some neat things in the library.

Right.

It's kind of like a museum for books.

There you go.

So anyway.

Uh,

that's my soapbox today.

P rich has a library, right?

I think the book is currently checked out.

So it's closed.

So,

well, that's what I heard.

Here's the saddest thing is, yeah, whoever wrote the book, right?

wrote it really slow because really yeah because they have slow readers.

I heard it was

Zebulon Bray.

Yes.

Your great great great great great grandfather or mother.

I never know.

Quiz day.

Yeah.

Are you ready to go?

Oh I got your question of the day.

That feels question of the day is do you squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom or wherever your hands fall on the tube?

Oh from the bottom all the time.

Absolutely.

So I got a question.

Do you remember the old I don't have never seen one in a while but

you put the tube in, then you use the plastic, you roll it up.

You know what I'm talking about?

It was

like a hair roller.

Yeah.

Put the end of the toothpaste stick or tube in there and then you just kind of gradually roll it up.

So just push that toothpaste out.

Yeah.

I was so poor at one time.

Phil, I used to look for old toothpaste tubes in the, just to open them up and then scrape my tooth.

Really?

That's poor.

It's yeah.

Yeah.

Very poor.

Yeah.

Anyway, poor joke too.

Yeah, it might be from me.

Who said it was a joke?

You might be from Peerage, Phillip.

If the entire town spends all year waiting for one mule to get about four seconds of air time, I

think you use that one already.

No, I don't think so.

I don't know.

I think that's a rerun.

Imagine that.

So apparently that mule got eight seconds.

Oh, well, what do you do?

All right.

10 questions, buddy.

All right.

Let's see here.

How can I fool you this week?

We'll go with this one.

The blue whale has the largest teeth in the animal world.

True false.

Okay.

Number two, a walrus.

Walrus.

A walrus.

Walrus.

A walrus.

Oh boy.

Can walk on its teeth.

Oh my goodness.

I had this all down.

A walrus can walk on its teeth.

True or false?

All right.

A batter that hits a home run can may be pitched ran for.

A batter in baseball that hits a home run may be pinch ran for true, false.

All right.

Number four, which university has the nickname horned frogs?

Is it TCU, Baylor?

Texas Tech or SMU.

TCU, Baylor, Texas Tech or SMU.

Okay.

Number five, Wisconsin has an official state soil.

Phillip, dug deep for this one.

What is it?

Is it Antigo Slit Loan, Badger Clay, Driftless Loan, or Wisconsin Black Earth?

I'll

say it again.

Is it the Antigo Slit Loam, Badger Clay, Driflus Loam, or the Wisconsin Black Earth?

All right.

Number six, which was a real product, Phillip?

Oh,

no.

Yeah.

Was it a baby mop outfit?

A toddler tax calculator or a crib mounted fax machine?

All

right.

Got it.

All right.

Number seven, what is a group of morning doves called?

Yes.

Is it a coup, a pity, a doil, or a whisper?

A coup, a pity, a doil, or a whisper?

Okay.

Number eight, what unusual material was used for some early American dentures?

Is it horse teeth, human teeth, deer antlers, or seashells?

Sea shells.

by the sea shore.

Sally sold sea sails by the sea shore.

Yeah, right.

Something like that.

All right.

Is it horse teeth, human teeth, deer antler or sea shells?

All right.

All right.

All right.

Number nine.

What was the second song you played last Saturday night on those were the days?

Oh, for heaven's sakes.

Oh boy.

See, I've got, I've got the old memory.

I know.

Short-term memory.

Um, so the first song I played was those were the days.

Right.

Um, okay.

Those were the days.

No, that was the TV, TV theme song with Archie and Edith that you just sang.

Oh yeah.

Something like that.

Anyway, what was the second song you played last Saturday night on those were the days?

All right.

All right, buddy.

Number 10.

In soccer, if a goalkeeper throws a ball all the way down the field and straight into the other team's goal, what happens?

Is it, I see here, is it a goal?

It counts for two goals.

No goal, the other team gets a goal kick or the keeper has to take a bow.

Hmm.

All

right.

Is it a goal?

It counts for two goals, no goal.

The other team gets a goal or the keeper has to take a bow.

All right.

Don't watch us on video when I took a bow.

Yeah, you just took a bow.

Yeah.

All right.

Number number one, buddy.

Here we go.

The blue whale has the largest teeth in the animal world.

True or false?

False.

How come, Phil?

I think there's one with a bigger teeth.

No, blue whales don't have teeth.

still I know right you're

correct I got it

right yep the sperm whale has the largest teeth its teeth can reach about eight inches long and weigh more than two pounds in piece

yeah well good I got it right

cavity

I got number one right

bring that cement truck over and we'll fill this cavity up I think it was in the cartoons wasn't

I'm pretty sure

number two a walrus I said it right yeah you did can walk on its teeth

That's true.

It is true.

Walshers can use their long tusks to hook on the ice, can help their, haul their heavy bodies out of water.

That behavior earned them scientific name, meaning with rough tooth or I'll let you explain that.

Read me on the spot here.

No, right here.

What?

Right there.

Um, Oda, Oda, Venice, Rosmaris.

Yeah, it was tough.

Yeah, try to translate

roughly.

Tooth Walker.

Yeah, I try to translate it.

Oh, yeah.

It actually laughed at me.

All right.

Number three, a batter hits a home run may be pinch ran for.

I think that's true.

It is true, but there's, there's a requirement to be pinch ran for.

You know what that requirement is?

If you can, if the runner gets hurt, if the batter gets hurt while hitting, well, now if the batter goes in the box already hurt, he must finish the home run truck.

Right.

But.

Don't you have to get to first base?

Yes, you have to touch first base.

But, but what I'm saying is, let's say I go up there and I have a hurt leg.

Okay.

Already before the bat, I hit a home run, which is funny, but I can, I hit a home run.

I cannot be sub for because I entered the box injured.

Oh,

so you've got to crawl around the bases.

The only way that you can be pinched for in a home run is if you get injured during the bat.

Yeah.

Pull something on the way to first base.

That's correct.

Yup.

Yup.

So all right.

Number four, which university has the nicknamed horned frogs?

TCU.

It is.

It's a TC horned frog.

Horned frogs.

Horned frogs sounds harmless until you realize regular frogs apparently weren't intimidating enough.

Number five, Philip, here we go.

Wisconsin has an official state soil.

What is it?

Is it antichloroslite loom, badger clay, driftless loom, or the Wisconsin black earth?

I went with the one that you had trouble saying, antigo.

Antigo, yes.

We

actually have an official dirt.

This might be the most, most Wisconsin thing ever.

Somewhere there's a guy staring at his field saying, that ain't dirt.

That's antigo slit loom.

Yes.

I can see us after doing that.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

Five in a row, baby.

Number six, what's a real product?

Was it a baby mop outfit?

Toddler tax calculator or a crib mounted fax machine?

I went with B. No, it's a baby mop outfit.

Oh, no.

Yes.

Baby mop outfit.

All right.

I

suppose.

All right.

What is a group of morning?

Doves called Philip.

Is it a coup, a pity, a Doyle or a whisperer?

A coup.

Nope.

It's a Doyle.

Fitting.

You've heard them out there.

They sound like something's wrong with them.

It's fitting for a bird that sounds like emotionally processing taxes at sunrise.

But they just, I have them all over my place.

Oh, do you?

And I like them.

But boy, they sound horrible in there.

It seems like they're crying.

Oh, well, maybe

they are.

Yeah, because they're living at my house.

Put some feet

in the feeder then.

What's unusual?

What unusual material was used for some early American dentures?

Is it horse teeth, human teeth, deer antler or seashells?

I went with human teeth.

It is.

It is.

It is human teeth.

Suddenly the phrase, that's a nice smile has become extremely uncomfortable.

All right, buddy.

Here's the tough question.

What was the second song you played last Saturday night on those were the days?

Blueberry Hill.

It is by

Fat Stamino.

I found my thrill.

Number 10, if soccer, if a goalkeeper throws the ball away, all the way down the field is straight into the other team's goal.

What happens, Phillip?

Is it a goal that counts for two goals?

No goal.

The other team gets a, gets a goal kick or the keeper has to take a bow.

I don't think it's a goal.

It's not a goal.

It's a no goal.

No goal.

The other team gets a goal kick.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a goal's keeper throw.

The longest throw of a goalkeeper's life and the scoreboard says, and the scoreboard says, nice try, buddy.

Nice try.

How many?

I got

eight.

Not

bad.

Not

bad

at all.

Not

going on the fridge, but

still.

I don't think you had a fridge hanger since June.

Somewhere like that.

Yeah.

It's been a little while.

So maybe I'll bring back the music.

I've

had longer stretches.

Yeah,

bring back music for Sherry.

We'll see.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well, thank you.

Not about it.

Hey, I hope you have a great day.

We'll work out.

Were you at tonight?

I am at Ithaca tonight.

Oh, okay.

Had to think about it.

Yes.

Volleyball.

Yes.

Okay.

Not too far from home.

Yeah.

I shouldn't get lost in the world.

Probably six miles.

Um, something like that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Seven.

Maybe seven, eight.

Whatever.

You know what?

I'll take the, uh, maybe the, the formal.

Yeah.

Go to plane.

and then head back.

Oh, is that right?

Yeah.

Get more mileage.

Right.

Okay.

So yeah.

Milk it.

Yeah.

When I go, when I go to downtown center, I go to Ithaca and then back.

Oh, you do?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Milk in that mileage.

Milk in the mileage.

Buddy, have a great day and everybody be kind.

Today's Vital Statistics are sponsored by Krause Monument.

Krause Monument Company designs and produces granite headstones, gravestones, grave markers, monuments, and memorials.

Today is September 29.

These are today's Vital Statistics.

David Daniel Higbee, 65 of Richland Center, died Wednesday, September 16.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 30th at 3 p.m.

at the Pratt Memorial Chapel, with burial to follow in the Richland Center Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 1 p.m.

until the time of service at 3 p.m.

at the Pratt Memorial Chapel.

Dave Higbee is survived by two children, Daniel Higbee and Angela and Ryan Larson.

Four stepchildren, Karina Fish, John Butler, Rod and Lauren Harris, and Simon and Kristen Harris.

12 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his brother Gary and Becky Higbee, aunts and uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, David, Daniel Higbee, 65 of Richland Center.

Peter, Pete, Crook, 65 of Bear Valley died unexpectedly Thursday, September 24th in a work accident.

A funeral mass will be held Thursday, October 1st at 10.30 a.m.

at St.

Luke's Catholic Church in Plain with burial in the St.

Killian's Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 30th from 4 p.m.

until 7 p.m.

at the Richardson Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green.

Peter survived by his wife Dolores.

Four children, Daniel and Brittany Crook, Monica and Isaiah Rickert, Jessica and Jesse Lenz, Brittany and John Killoy.

Five grandchildren, Grant, Adeline, Olivia, Maisie and Crue.

Four siblings, Mary and Alois Clary, Dale and Pat Crook, Dawn and Bruce Reeve, Chris and Jeff Sorg.

Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Peter Pete Crook, 65 of Bear Valley.

Carolyn Josephine Janney Freeman, 102 of Richland Center died Wednesday, September 2nd at Schmidt Woodland Hills.

A celebration of life for Carolyn will be held Saturday, October 3rd at 11 a.m.

at the Pratt Memorial Chapel with a private family burial to follow in the Richland Center cemetery.

A live stream of the service can be viewed at the Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service website.

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 3rd at the Pratt Memorial Chapel from 9.30 a.m.

until the time of service at 11 a.m.

Memorials in Carolyn's Memory can be made to the Town and Country Presbyterian Church, Schmidt-Wilin Hills Foundation Scholarship Fund, or the Myrotony Pine River School Restoration Handicap Accessible Project.

Caroline is survived by her children, Sherry and Larry Kwame, Jean and John Hopkins, and Vicki and Jerry Wisniewski.

Seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

Caroline, Josephine, Janney, Freeman, 102 of Richland Center.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the selfless sacrifice of John Klang, a beloved educator, mentor, and leader who dedicated his life to protecting and serving the students and staff of Weston School.

On this solemn milestone, the Weston community comes together to honor a man whose heroic actions and lifelong commitment left an enduring imprint on all who knew him.

John's connection to Weston ran deep.

Having walked its hallways as a student, he later returned to serve his alma mater in numerous capacities over several decades.

For over 20 years, he was an active member of the Western School Board advocating passionately for high educational standards and student welfare.

He later stepped into leadership roles as the athletic director and eventually as principal, consistently leading with integrity, compassion and unwavering devotion.

Two decades after his heroic final act, John's spirit remains deeply embedded within the culture of Weston School.

His legacy serves as a constant reminder of courage, leadership, and selflessness.

As community members, former students, and staff gather to reflect on his life, they celebrate not only his ultimate bravery, but also the countless everyday moments of guidance and encouragement he offered to generations of students.

I asked Phil Nee to stay with me in the studio for the news today.

Phil was on the air that day 20 years ago.

Phil, what was that day like down here?

Well, Todd, it was a dark day to say the least.

And I've been on the air five years earlier when 9-11 happened.

And this was as bad or worse for us just because we knew John well.

And ironically, at the time of this incident, we were playing an interview with him on the air that Vicky Bedard, who was on our new staff at the time, had recorded just the night before because it was Weston's homecoming.

And so we were playing this interview when he was talking about how great the week was going.

And then this happened.

And of course, we started getting calls at the radio station.

And that was, of course, social media wasn't really such a thing at that point.

So people were really relying us for the information.

And we started getting calls saying that, oh, we heard there was a traffic accident near Western school this morning.

And I started correcting people saying no, no, there was an incident at the school.

There wasn't a traffic accident, only to learn later.

You know what up the day got even more horrible because Eric fictal who was just a age 16 at that time died in a car accident that morning on his way to school and so that and then coupled with with John Clang and then the other thing that was really tough is we were told by authorities to not say the names on the air and we would go into our

national news and cbs and they would scoop us and they would they mentioned right on the air you know john clang western principal has been shot you know at that point he was in grave condition or whatever we weren't allowed to say that but the national news was scooping us at that time and then they they brought up you know eric's name as well so it was just a rough day to be on the air just because we we knew those people and uh... you know it was just uh... a dark day hard to believe it's been twenty years

I thought the same thing this morning when I realized it had been.

I can't believe that's 20 years ago.

And then when I got here today, you taught me.

I was not living here 20 years ago.

And Phil taught me about the young man who died in a car accident right there, a Western student the same day, if you can believe that.

So the Western community and then of course the greater Richland community.

Two tragedies in one day, the young man passed away, I believe, at a hospital in Madison.

And of course, John did as well.

And as that news of the shooting, that incident, of course, spread all over the place.

And I got a phone call that day from my uncle, Denny, over in Spring Green, telling me that my aunt Shirley Copernall had been John's third grade teacher back in the day over in Western District.

And so these things started to come out.

And I didn't know John, but the stories of who he was and what he was about.

Came out quickly and I'm glad they did and I think it's the only fitting that we mentioned all of this today You know such a senseless things such a tragic thing and just hopefully people will take a minute to think about About what happened and how we need to never have that again and how brave people incredibly brave people

saved innocent lives that day.

And John certainly did that.

Very much so.

And how it affects a community when a tragedy happens like this, because as you mentioned, we're all connected, you know?

And so, yeah, 20 years have gone by, but we remember Eric Fichtel and John Clang today.

So you're telling everyone that at the moment, this crazy thing was taking place over at Weston School, an interview with John that I think was recorded the day before.

The night before.

Was playing on the air.

That's correct.

And what was he discussing?

He was discussing Western's homecoming and how well the week was going.

Wow.

Well, Phil, thank you for sharing.

I wanted the people out there to really hear more than I knew about that day and how that went.

And I guess we're just everyone at WRCO asking everyone out there to remember that and to remember John Klang today for what he did.

And again, one more time, the student's name who died that day.

Eric Fichtel.

OK, to anyone who knew and loved Eric Fichtel,

Same there imagine that same day and you lose a kid I've been through that and when that happens in your household it changes everything and somehow in that family It disappeared because it happened on the same day this other thing happened So our best from everyone here to everyone who anew or loved either of the men who died that day Thanks Phil you're welcome 20 years ago today still hard to believe that that's the case

The Ritzland Hospital and Clinics will join forces with local and regional emergency response agencies Thursday, October 1st to conduct a comprehensive disaster training exercise.

The planned drill aims to test real-time communication, interagency coordination, and incident command operations to evaluate and strengthen local response capabilities.

Throughout the day, community members will notice heightened activity surrounding hospital grounds, including emergency vehicles,

response personnel and volunteer actors.

Participating in realistic simulated scenarios.

Hospital officials emphasize that this is strictly a training event.

in that patient care services will continue without interruption.

Lyle Cradawell, risk management director for the Richland Hospital and Clinics, highlighted the importance of routine drills in maintaining community readiness.

He noted that evaluating strengths and addressing areas for improvement in a controlled setting ensures staff and regional partners remain fully prepared for real emergencies.

Following the exercise, participating agencies will complete a full debrief to refine future response strategies.

Again, that's Thursday at the Richland Hospital.

It will be a training, even though you may see emergency vehicles and so forth up there.

This is a simulated scenario.

The Richland Center City Council will meet in a special session tonight at 5.30 at the City Municipal Building.

Major agenda highlights include the personnel committee's recommendations regarding 2027 health insurance policies.

Additionally, the general government committee will bring forward recommendations for the Connect Communities grant application alongside a request for municipal accounting and bookkeeping services.

The meeting will conclude following the consideration of these items.

Authorities in Washburn County are investigating a possible homicide following a welfare check conducted Saturday.

According to officials, Washburn County deputies were dispatched to a residence on Highway E near Mackenzie Lake and Casey Township to check on the well-being of a 56-year-old male.

Upon their arrival, deputies encountered a 25-year-old male

who was exiting the property from an attached garage.

When deputies inquired about the 56 year old resident, the younger man made statements that led officers to detain him immediately.

A subsequent security sweep of the property revealed the 56 year old male deceased inside, having suffered multiple wounds.

Deputies quickly secured the scene and called in Washburn County investigators.

Due to the nature of the crime, assistance was requested from the Wisconsin Department of Justice

Crime Lab to help process the property and gather evidence.

An autopsy for the deceased victim has been scheduled.

The 25-year-old suspect remains in custody at the Washburn County Jail, pending formal charges.

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details will be released as they become available.

In Marquette County, criminal charges have been filed against Austin Sucuate,

A former deputy with the Marquette County Sheriff's Office, the case was formally initiated via electronic filing on May 15.

Presided over by Circuit Court Judge Mark T. Slate, the open matter involves multiple misdemeanor and felony counts against the former officer who currently resides in DeForest.

The defendant faces six distinct counts, comprising one felony and five misdemeanor offenses.

Count one charges possession of methamphetamine, a class I felony.

Counts two through five each charge the unclassified misdemeanor of possessing and illegally obtained prescription.

Count six alleges possession of a controlled substance, an unclassified misdemeanor.

Currently no court fees or financial obligations are owed by the defendant.

Initial court proceedings commenced June 22nd.

with an initial appearance before Judge Chad Handy, during which Judge Handy recused himself due to the defendant's former employment as an officer in the Marquette County Sheriff's Office.

Following a reassignment to Judge Slate, an initial appearance took place July 22nd, where a $500 signature bond was established with specific conditions prohibiting the possession or use of controlled substances without a valid prescription.

A preliminary hearing and arraignment were conducted remotely via video conference September 16th.

During the preliminary hearing, the court heard testimony from U.S.

Postal Inspector Ross Hinckley.

In arguments from both counsel, Judge Slate made a finding of probable cause that a felony had been committed by the defendant.

Binding the case over for further proceedings and entering a plea of not guilty.

The Vernon County Sheriff's Office successfully held its annual in-service training on Monday, bringing together department staff and regional partner agencies for a comprehensive day of instruction and professional development.

The training session covered a wide range of critical operational topics, including emerging trends in cryptocurrency, advanced procedures for death investigations, and updates from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Attendees also completed hands-on refresher courses in life-saving measures, specifically the administration of Narcan, automated external defibrillator, AED usage, and EpiPen application.

Additional training sessions are scheduled to take place Wednesday and again October 5th as part of the department's ongoing effort to maintain high standards of community service and readiness.

U.S.

Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson supported the Senate passage of the Bipartisan Protect College Sports Act.

A legislative measure designed to establish standardized national guidelines for student, athlete, name, image, and likeness, or NIL, compensation.

The bill passed the Senate with a 77 to 22 vote and now moves to the House of Representatives.

The legislation aims to bring structure to the rapidly changing collegiate sports landscape, expanding revenue opportunities for athletic programs, while codifying student athlete protections into law.

Senator Baldwin successfully offered

a key amendment to the bill to safeguard athletes' legal rights, ensuring they retain the ability to pursue state law claims regarding personal injury, health and safety violations, or sexual assault.

Community members are invited to participate in a Day of Power at the Wisconsin State Capitol Tuesday, October 13.

The event offers constituents an opportunity to engage directly with state lawmakers including scheduled meetings with the offices of Senator Sarah Kieske and Representative Tony Kurtz.

Local participation is strongly encouraged as legislative offices prioritize meeting with people from their own districts.

The day begins with a briefing at 10 a.m.

followed by small team office visits with neighbors starting at 1 p.m.

The event will conclude at 4.30pm with the state of the campaign address.

Participation in the event is completely free of charge.

Complimentary coach transportation is available for attendees, leaving Verroqua at 7 a.m.

and Richland Center at 7.45.

Seats for the coach must be reserved by Thursday, October 1st.